Conversations with a Hat
Have you ever wondered about what goes on between the ickle-firstie on the stool and the Sorting Hat? How much do the first years influence their placement? Or was Harry a special case? What could have possessed the Hat to put people where he put them? Well, now it's time for you to find out.
Tonks's SortingShe looked around eagerly at all the faces. She was a little nervous, after all, who wasn't? But she was ready. She wanted to be here more than she wanted to be anywhere in the whole world! Her father, being a Muggle, had never been here. He had never sat on this stool. But her mother had. She wanted to make her mum proud of her. She wanted to make Sirius proud of her. Not that he'd know about it, but all the same… They'd all sat here on this stool. The very tri-legged stool she was sitting on. Grinning for all she was worth, she took the Hat that was in her hands and jammed it on her head eagerly.
"Ah, Nymphadora Tonks."
She winced. "Dora, if you don't mind. Or just Tonks." She hadn't been called Dora since she was probably six though. Not since Sirius had left. It'd just been too painful. "Tonks, please."
"Tonks, then. Hmmm. There are some odd things here."
"Like what?" she asked curiously.
"Your mother was a Ravenclaw if I'm not mistaken. Wasn't she?" The Hat had a very good memory. It knew the name and age of every student it had ever sorted. Of course, Andromeda's name hadn't been Tonks at the time, but Albus Dumbledore wasn't like the other Headmasters. He talked to the Hat; he often notified it of important events as well as marriages and such. The Hat knew more about wizarding families than perhaps anyone else and it was certainly a milestone when a member of the Black family married a Muggle; something the Hat had recognized when Dumbledore mentioned it some years ago.
"Yes. Mum was a Ravenclaw. She's bright. What's so odd about that?"
"Just a little odd that you don't seem to have the inclination or aptitude to be a Ravenclaw. I find many students often want to follow in their parents' footsteps concerning this sort of thing. You don't seem to. You don't exactly seem to possess the particular aptitude to be a Ravenclaw either though. You're a tough one to place."
"Sorry about that."
"You've certainly got loyalty. It runs deep."
"I haven't given up on my mom's cousin. It's been a long time, but I'm not giving up. There's no way he did what they accused him of. He was always there for me. He would never kill anyone."
"Loyal and brave, I see."
"Brave? You really think I'm brave?"
"Yes. I can tell this sort of thing, you know. It's my job."
"Oh, right."
"I think I've determined your house."
"And?" she asked anxiously.
"Did you ever doubt it? Through and through you're a GRYFFINDOR!"
Tonks beamed and wondered if the applause she was hearing were just in her head. She tilted back the Hat and grinned wider, seeing that there was a whole table full of people clapping for her! A Gryffindor! Her mother and father would be proud. Sirius would be so proud; it had been his house too.
She stood up carefully and put the Hat on the stool, determined not to make a fool of herself with her klutziness, at least not yet. She was nearly to the table when she tripped and fell, caught just in time by one of her new housemates. As she stumbled, he had reached out and grabbed her forearm, holding her up until she regained her balance. She grinned at him and took a seat across from him. She may have had to leave her old friends behind, but she was certainly going to make a lot of new ones.
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Hey. Sorry it's been a bit since the last update. On the plus side I'm nearly done with Draco's sorting and that will go up in a few days. Also a plus, this is the longest chapter of the story so far. So it's all good. As always, I'm taking requests and I'd love to read more reviews! If you liked this Sorting (which I admit probably wasn't my best work) you'll like Tonks Watch. A story I just wrote and which will be posted later today. It's about Nymphadora Tonks as a four year old, just a few weeks after the Potters' marriage, being baby-sat by Sirius. (much better than it sounds, I promise!)
Don't forget, Draco's sorting is next!
Here's replies:
Wanderer Lita Makoto Kino—Thanks. Oliver! I never thought of doing him or Katie before. Those are whole new possibilities to explore. I'll do Lily and James and Oliver and Katie as soon as I can but I can't decide what to write for them.
LUCIUS-is-LUSCIOUS—Thanks. Yeah, I've got plans to do some work about him at school actually, those will be started soon I think, around the same time as I posted his Sorting. Favorite Stories list? Cool, thanks!
Mrs.ProfessorLupin—Thanks
AndreaBlack—Thanks. I'll try but I usually have my away message on. My AIM is HobbitGirl88
Kingsdork24—Thanks. This is a long chapter though, well, longer than the others.
Jess131346—Thanks. I'll do their Sortings as soon as I can decide what to write.
Miss-Aurelia—Thanks. It didn't specify her house that I can think of, but I always assumed Gryffindor. My sorting? Hmm. Well I'm pushy, but I'm no Slytherin. I'm determined, but I'm no Gryffindor. I'm loyal, but not quite trusting enough to be a Hufflepuff I think. I'd most likely be a Ravenclaw. I like reading and books and thinking and I'm more of a quiet type.
Dark Lady of Slytherin—Thanks.
*Mac—Thanks. Yeah, I kind of see him that way.
JoJo—Thanks. I hope you liked this.
Susan D—Thanks
JKIJ—Yeah. I definitely see her as a Ravenclaw. Really? Remus as a Slytherin? I never really saw him thinking of himself that way. What makes you say that? Yeah, I didn't even think about him being relieved at getting accepted.
HPERdingdong39—Thanks for all your reviews!
Gryffindors-Light—Thanks. Yeah, my writer's blcok is very selective and attacks certain stories while my other stories get overloaded with ideas.
Brianna Marie—Thanks. My favorites too. :-)
Jbfritz—Thanks
Siriusforeva—Thanks.
Freakyfairy—Thanks!
Saxistwriterchick—hehe. Hope this lived up to your expectations.
Wintersun—Yeah, soon as I can decide what to write I'll write his. I've even got stories planned for him as a Hogwarts students.
The Toaster—Thanks